My baby girl, who is not so much a baby, turns 2 today.
I took some time to go through images over the past year or so and post some of my favorites.
July 2009
August 2009
October 2009
Happy First Birthday! November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
Summer 2010
September 2010
Happy Birthday my sweet princess!!!
Some of our very best friends just left today for Chicago. Not for vacation, but to live. Marshall got transferred, and in less than 4 weeks since they found out they were moving, they’re gone. She was one of my first very good friends in the neighborhood. She sold my house. Her son was Owen’s first best “male” friend. But such is life. People come and go. And now we have a place to stay in Chicago. Can’t wait to visit there in December!!!
I miss you already.
They came for a studio session on Saturday, but before I post any of those I went through pictures I had taken all throughout the past year and chose some of my favorites.
december 09
springtime 2010
Summertime 2010. They came over quite often while we were living on the beach.
Right after little Max’s first haircut just this past Wednesday.
Stay tuned. Their studio session will be coming soon!!
Safe journey Pitts family. We’ll see you soon!!!
In an attempt to get some new shots of my kids, that was mostly spent crying and fighting over a Transformer toy, I managed this one. Both of their birthdays are next month. Owen will be four and Stella two. But as they sit there still 3 and 1, I can see them as teenagers. Sitting there waiting for Mom to take their picture already. Stella, just shy of two years looks so much older and mature in this image. My children never cease to amaze me, and I really get excited for what lies ahead.
We’re well into the third week of preschool and as a parent I couldn’t be happier. Stella no longer cries when I leave. In fact, we’re working on getting her to say goodbye. She’s so excited to run out onto the playground that she leaves me in the dust, but I’m fine with that. Both kiddos love their teachers, and after being a teacher for 7 years myself and now being on the parent side, I truly appreciate how special that is.
Owen picked out his own shirt. Gotta love the new vintage style shirts at Target!!! ($6.99 FTW!)
Stella’s adorable tunic dress is actually a piece I picked up last year at Genius Jones.
For some reason I just see the same face on her at 16, when I’m still trying to get these first day of school shots. “C’mon Mom! Hurry up! You’re embarrassing me!”
When we moved into the beach house, on Hollywood Beach, for the summer, my husband and I came up with a “beach bucket list.” Things we wanted to do and restaurants we wanted to eat at during our three month stay. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to do everything on the list, but we came very close. On our last weekend on the beach we finally rented one of the surrey bikes and ate at Las Brisas. Two major things on the list. I’ve lived in Hollywood for most of my life, and growing up had always wanted to ride one of those with my family. At 33 years old, married with two kids. I finally did it!
This has been an incredible week of firsts for my family, and more so for my 22 month old daughter, Stella. First week of preschool (photos to come), first night in our new (albeit temporary) home, and her first night in a “big girl” bed (after night #2 it isn’t going all too well). It’s been quite a lot of transition for my little one and I’m definitely feeling my share of mommy guilt. But it’s nothing a little extra love, an extra strong cup of coffee (I slept with her last night), and time won’t fix.
So I have a few personal posts coming up in the next few days documenting the first days of school and our last days on the beach. My family have left our beach house and are now in Victoria Park. This is our last stop until our new home is ready in Monterra (a new development in Cooper City). But we’re excited about our stay in Victoria Park, a very cool neighborhood in east Ft. Lauderdale. In fact, we’ve always wanted to live here. And now we can cross that off our bucket list before moving out to the suburbs.
I might not have slept well the last few nights, but life is good. I’m very lucky. (The luckiest in the world!)
As I mentioned before, the kids started preschool this week. Both for the first time.
The Friday before school started was “Meet the Teacher.”
I attempted a quick session with my kids before we left, but as many photographers can tell you, attempting great portraits of your own kids can be painful, for both the photographer and the kids. This image is a keeper. Lenny had to tickle Owen to get a smile.
Usually I get something more along the lines of this…
I probably had to bribe him or threaten something terrible.
Waiting for school to open. We were still living at the beach, and we left 30 minutes early for a five minute drive. So of course we had to wait. (In case you’re curious. Owen’s tshirt and shorts are both Crewcuts by J Crew, and Stella’s adorable ensemble is by Matilda Jane Clothing! haha)
Stella’s favorite part of her classroom was the slide! She went up and down a dozen times. My favorite part was the delicious natural light pouring in through the wall of windows.
Owen’s classroom was full of exciting things to encourage exploration, learning, and play. (and also full of natural light!)
Building light sabres out of magnetic blocks.
Our good buddy Jake and his dad!
We’re all super excited for the upcoming year. The teachers we met are warm and caring and the preschool is child centered and a perfect place to foster our kids’ development both cognitively and socially. It’s really a privilege to be there!
Super excited about this Thursday. Courtney ortiz photography and The Haircut Hangout are hosting a Matilda Jane Clothing Trunk Show and School Supply Drive to benefit Kids in Distress. I can’t sing enough praises for Matilda Jane Clothing. Just a couple of weeks ago, a girlfriend of mine complained that she had a hard time finding appropriate back to school clothes for her 8 year old daughter. Matilda Jane Clothing is the answer. Beautiful, unique, and well made pieces that allow little girls to be just that…..little girls; in sizes 12 months to tween 12. MJC is very exclusive and only available for purchase through trunk shows. During this month of August, courtney ortiz photography and The Haircut Hangout have been collecting school supplies to benefit Kids in Distress. Come to the trunk show and bring a donation of school supplies and you’ll entered in a raffle to win prizes from courtney ortiz photography, The Haircut Hangout, Hair Industry, L-Bows Creations, and other local businesses. Mark your calendars…..The Matilda Jane Trunk Show and School Supply drive is this Thursday, August 19 from 12-6. It’s a great way for us all to get ready for school!!
We only have two weeks left here on the beach before we move to our next stop, Victoria Park in Ft. Lauderdale. We’ll be living there while our house is being built. But in the meantime I have lots of new beach pictures and sessions to share. It’s been an unbelievably busy summer both professionally and personally.
I love when friends come visit us at the beach. One of my favorite things about living here!
I love love love love the light at sunset.
While on vacay I got to visit with my cousin, and fellow photog, Kym Drum. Kym‘s a portrait event photographer in the Greenville, South Carolina area. We did a mini session on the streets of downtown Hendersonville.
Kym has an amazing collection of vintage cameras. I thought it was only fitting to use them in the session!
I love being in North Carolina. We spent four days in Flat Rock at my grandparent’s house. Flat Rock is just outside of Hendersonville, which is south of Asheville.
Stella really enjoyed playing with Milo.
Looks like they’re planning something naughty!
My brother shooting some hoops. (What you don’t see is the hoop is really only about 5 feet off the ground!)
My dad!! Taking a break on the walk up to the Connemara Goat Farm. The goat farm is at the home of the famed American writer Carl Sandburg. You can tour his home or just play with the goats.
Grandad
The “blue steel.”
I have one more vacation post to come this week! Lots going on in the studio. Stop by and say, “hi!”
If you missed out on the Fall newsletter, it’s now available online! HERE!
Matilda Jane Clothing Trunk Show and School Supply Drive to benefit Kids in Distress is August 19 from 12-6 (118 S 20th Avenue, Hollywood). Donate school supplies and be entered to win prizes from courtney ortiz photography, The Haircut Hangout, Hair Industry, L-Bows Creations, and other local businesses.
The Third Installment…….
I had a “lifestyle session” on the beach this evening, and my family was waiting for me on the Hollywood Broadwalk playground as I walked home. (A benefit of living on the beach and shooting on the beach is the commute.)
…a joyous sight indeed!…
Black and white really spoke to me tonight. It’s been speaking to me more and more. Which is a change.
We flew the kite again tonight.
But tonight, it was Lenny’s first time!
Her laughter is sunshine….gorgeous, beautiful, and warm.
